• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Tuesday March 12 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Bristol Beacon celebrates surging ticket sales and 100,000 visitors in first 100 days

Concert venue Bristol Beacon has reported a 30 per cent surge in ticket sales to nearly 100,000 in the first 100 days since it reopened to the public.

In its first 100 days, the venue has welcomed 100,000 visitors, enjoying a diverse programme of events that include 75 concerts, three world premieres, 14 comedy gigs, three family shows and two festivals that have taken place since 30 November.

Among the star-studded lineup of performers that have so far graced the new stages are renowned artists including viral sensation of the moment Sophie Ellis Bextor, recent number one selling artist Jools Holland, indie icons Bombay Bicycle Club and Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara.

In addition to the shows, over 2,300 children and young people have been making the most of the new spaces to practice or perform, including Bristol Youth Choir, who performed as part of the choral premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Odyssey alongside Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and City of Bristol Choir.

Audiences ‘coming back to experience live music’

Louise Mitchell, chief executive, Bristol Beacon, said: “We are thrilled by the response and success we’ve experienced since reopening Bristol Beacon.

“The remarkable increase in ticket sales and huge numbers of people through the doors is a heartening reminder that we are wanted and needed by our artists, audiences and communities, who are coming back to experience live music with us now that we’re open again.

“It’s fantastic to see our building back in use as it was intended and we look forward to continuing to delight audiences and fostering shared and memorable experiences for years to come.”

Beyond the success of its events programme and reopening, as a music charity Bristol Beacon has also been recognised with a number of national awards for its dedication to music as a tool for social change and impact.

This includes the Rocksteady Award for Progressive and Inclusive Music Education at the Music and Drama Awards, in recognition of its HOPE Creative programme, which supports care experienced children, care leavers and young carers to express themselves through creative activity.

The charity has also been announced as a Youth Music IDEA Champion 2024 after completing a 12-month Inclusion Diversity Equity and Access (IDEA) learning programme to improve its practices and commit to long-term change.

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